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Welcome — this short lesson shows how to install Python 3 on macOS, verify the installation, and confirm the command-line setup. This guide uses the official macOS installer from python.org and includes verification steps you can run in Terminal. Overview
  • Download the macOS installer from the official Python website.
  • Run the installer and follow the prompts.
  • Restart macOS (recommended) or open a new Terminal window.
  • Verify the installed Python version from Terminal.
  1. Download the installer
  • Open your web browser and go to: https://python.org/downloads/
  • Click the download button for the latest Python 3 release for macOS. This downloads the macOS installer package (.pkg).
  1. Run the installer
  • Open the downloaded .pkg file.
  • Continue through the installer prompts and accept the license/agreement.
  • When prompted, authenticate with your macOS password so the installer can place files in the system locations.
  • Click Install and enter your password if requested.
  • When the installer finishes, click Close. You can choose Keep or Move to Trash for the installer package as you prefer.
A macOS desktop with a dark‑mode "Install Python" dialog open over a forest wallpaper. The installer shows the Read Me text and buttons like Continue, Go Back, Print, and Save.
A restart is recommended after installation to ensure the PATH and any environment changes from the installer are fully applied. If you prefer not to restart immediately, open a new Terminal window after installation to pick up changes.
  1. Open Terminal and confirm the installation
  • Open Launchpad and search for Terminal, or open Terminal from Applications → Utilities.
  • Run the following command to confirm the installed Python 3 version:
python3 --version
Example terminal output: 
Last login: Thu Feb 20 04:17:00 on ttys000
arnopretorius@Arnos-MacBook-Air ~ % python3 --version
Python 3.13.2
arnopretorius@Arnos-MacBook-Air ~ %
This shows Python 3.13.2 is available as python3 (your version may differ). Quick reference — common verification commands
CommandPurpose
python3 --versionShow the installed Python 3 version.
python3 -m pip --versionConfirm pip for Python 3 is available.
which python3Show the path to the python3 executable.
Use python3 when running Python 3 on macOS to avoid confusion with any system-provided python command. On some macOS versions, python may point to an older system Python or be undefined.
Troubleshooting tips
  • If python3 is not found after installation, try opening a new Terminal window or restarting macOS.
  • If the installer didn’t update your PATH as expected, check /usr/local/bin or the installer log for where the binaries were placed.
  • To manage multiple Python versions, consider using pyenv (https://github.com/pyenv/pyenv) or virtual environments (python3 -m venv <env>).
Links and references That’s it — Python should now be installed and ready to use on your macOS device.

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